Electric toothbrushes

ABSTRACT

An electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrush includes a handle having an electric motor, a head, and a neck extending between the handle and the head. The head has first end disposed adjacent to the neck and a second end opposite the first end. The head has a first bristle holder with a plurality of bristles disposed therein and a second bristle holder having a plurality of bristles disposed therein. The first bristle holder is located at the second end of said head. A rotating shaft is operatively connected to the electric motor and to the first moving bristle holder to reciprocate the first moving bristle holder in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the head.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/308,959, filed Dec. 3, 2002, and claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/361,625, filed Mar. 4, 2002, all of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of electric toothbrushes and, moreparticularly, the invention relates to the field of electrically poweredtoothbrushes having at least one bristle holder that translates ortranslates.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The art is replete with techniques for transforming the rotationaloutput of a motor or other electromotive power source into desiredbrushing motions. Many techniques include a shaft as a component of thedrive train. The shaft may rotate, oscillate, or reciprocate. The shaftis coupled to a bristle holder. Most often, the bristle holder is drivenby the shaft in a rotating or oscillating manner about an axis which isnormal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. However, there is a desireto provide bristle holders that provide a scrubbing action at theleading edge of the toothbrush head in combination with bristle holdershaving static bristles or other movable bristle holders.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrush includes ahandle having an electric motor, a head, and a neck extending betweenthe handle and the head. The head has first end disposed adjacent to theneck and a second end opposite the first end. The head has a firstbristle holder with a plurality of bristles disposed therein and asecond bristle holder having a plurality of bristles disposed therein.The first bristle holder is located at the second end of said head. Arotating shaft is operatively connected to the electric motor and to thefirst moving bristle holder to reciprocate the first moving bristleholder in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It is believed that the present invention will be better understood fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top planar, partial sectional, top view of an electrictoothbrush made in accordance with the present invention, wherein theelectric toothbrush incorporates a rotating shaft;

FIG. 2 is a planar, partial section top view of a toothbrush headsuitable for use with the electric toothbrush of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional side view of the embodiment of FIG. 2,taken along line 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a planar, partial sectional top view of a second embodiment ofa toothbrush head suitable for use with the electric toothbrush of FIG.1;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional side view of the embodiment of FIG. 4,taken along line 5-5 thereof;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of an toothbrush having a second bristle holder.The toothbrush is shown in partial section;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 6 of a firstembodiment of a toothbrush head;

FIG. 7A is a partial sectional side view of the head of FIG. 7, takenalong line B-B of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along A-A in FIG. 6 of a secondembodiment of a toothbrush head;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along A-A in FIG. 6 of a thirdembodiment of a toothbrush head;

FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view taken along B-B in FIG. 6 of afourth embodiment of a toothbrush head;

FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view taken along B-B in FIG. 6 of a fifthembodiment a toothbrush head;

FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view of the fifth embodiment of FIG. 1.The shaft is shown rotated to a different position than shown in FIG.12;

FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view taken along B-B in FIG. 6 of a sixthembodiment of a toothbrush head;

FIG. 14 is a partial sectional view taken along B-B in FIG. 6 of aseventh embodiment of a toothbrush head;

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of a head portion of a eighth embodiment of atoothbrush head;

FIG. 16 is a partial sectional view of the eighth embodiment of atoothbrush head of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a partial sectional view taken along B-B in FIG. 6 of a ninthembodiment of a toothbrush head;

FIG. 18 is a side view of a toothbrush showing a first exemplaryalternate bristle arrangement; and

FIG. 19 is an end view taken along D-D of FIG. 8 showing a secondexemplary bristle arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

All patents and patent applications referenced herein are expresslyincorporated herein by reference, including U.S. provisional applicationNo. 60/361,625, filed Mar. 4, 2002. Reference will now be made in detailto various embodiments of the present invention, examples of which areillustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals indicatethe same elements throughout the views. As will be appreciated, thepresent invention is directed to electric toothbrushes and electrictoothbrush heads having one or more moving bristle holders. Optionally,the head might also include static bristles. The present invention canalso be used with electric toothbrushes having replaceable heads. Onesuch suitable replaceable head arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,617,601. The present invention can be used in combination withelectric toothbrushes that have shafts that translate, oscillate, orreciprocate (as well as combinations thereof) to directly impart motionto each moving bristle holder. Preferably, however, the presentinvention is used with a shaft that rotates. Alternatively, the movablebristle holders can also be interconnected amongst themselves so thatthe movement of one imparts movement to another.

Referring to FIG. 1, an electric toothbrush having a first bristleholder that translates or reciprocates while the second bristle holderis static relative to the head is illustrated. In other words, the shaftis not operatively connected to the second bristle holder to impartmovement thereto. As used herein, the term “reciprocate” is intended torefer to a bidirectional linear motion (e.g., a back and forth motion orside to side motion). Vibration is any periodic movement having repeatedcycles. Vibratory motion can have one or more frequencies andamplitudes. Vibratory motion that is substantially linear is areciprocating motion. The electric toothbrush 10 comprises a toothbrushhead portion 20, a body or handle 22, and an elongated neck 24 therebetween. As used herein, the term “forward” is intended to refer to thedirection from the handle to the head while the term “rearward” isintended to refer to the direction from the head to the handle. Inaddition, the term “longitudinal” is intended to refer to a lengthwisefeature of an element as seen from a top planar view thereof. Forexample, a longitudinal axis 30 is an axis passing through the longestdimension of an element, such as the head or a shaft. A longitudinaldirection is a direction that generally corresponds to a longitudinalaxis but which may not lie in the same plane as the longitudinal axis.For example, the longitudinal axes of a shaft and a toothbrush head maynot lie in the same plane but generally extend in the same directionfrom a top planar view. Similarly, a neck and head that are angled withrespect to each other may not have longitudinal axes that lie in thesame plane, but do have axes that extend in the same generallongitudinal direction from a top planar view. The electric toothbrushesof the present invention typically have an elongate head with alongitudinal axis passing through the longest dimension thereof. Thisaxis typically extends in the same general direction as the longitudinalaxes of the toothbrush neck and/or shaft. By the phrase “same generaldirection”, some angular deviation is contemplated between the axes.

The handle is hollow and includes a motor 26 and batteries 28 forpowering the motor. The motor 26 is operatively connected to the shaft34 either by a coupling 31 or by a gearing assembly (not shown). Arechargeable power source can be substituted for the batteries 28. Thehead 20 has a longitudinal axis 30 passing there through. Thelongitudinal axis 30 extends in the same general longitudinal directionas a longitudinal axis 32 of shaft 34. The shaft 34 is housed at leastpartially within neck 24. A first bristle holder 36 is disposed at afirst end of the head 20, wherein the first end is at the forward mostpoint of the head 20. While the first bristle holder 36 is illustratedas circular in shape, other shapes and sizes can be utilized. Further,while the first bristle holder 36 is disposed at the first end of thehead 20, it will be appreciated that it can be disposed away from thefirst end and other features, such as stationary or static bristles,might be disposed between the first bristle holder 36 and the first endof the head 20.

A second bristle holder 38 is disposed adjacent the first bristle holder36. The second bristle holder 38 is static or stationary relative to theneck 24 and handle 22 or is movable as described more fully hereafter.Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first bristle holder 36 is movablymounted in slots 62 in the toothbrush head 64 and driven in areciprocating or translating, transverse motion within the slots 62 by acam 16 included on a driving shaft 68. Alternatively, the slots 36 couldbe disposed in the in the first bristle holder 36 rather than thehousing of the toothbrush head 64. The slots 36 guide the first bristleholder 36 in its reciprocating movement. A plurality of L-shaped fingers65 depend from a bottom surface 67 of the first bristle holder 36 andare at least partially, slideably disposed within the slots 62. Whilethe fingers 65 are shown as L-shaped in cross-sectional end view of FIG.3, it is recognized that the fingers 65 can be provided in other shapesand sizes. For example, the fingers 65 might be cylindrically shaped orprovided as a parallelogram.

The cam 16 can comprise an appropriately shaped bead placed over ormolded and fixedly secured to the shaft 34. For example, the bead isshaped as an eccentric cam. Alternatively, the cam can include one ormore rectilinear, curvilinear or other kind of bend, as shown by way ofexample in the embodiment of FIG. 7A. First 70 and second 72 camfollowers also depend from the bottom surface 67 of the first bristleholder 36. The cam followers are, for example, offset from thelongitudinal axis 30 of the first bristle holder 36 (i.e., are notsymmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis 30 of the firstbristle holder) and straddle or capture the cam 66. While the camfollowers 70 and 72 are preferably offset from the longitudinal axis ofthe first bristle holder 36, the cam followers 70 and 72 are preferablydisposed at about the middle of the first bristle holder 36. In otherwords, the cam followers are disposed about mid-way between theforward-most end of the first bristle holder 36 and the rearward-mostend of the first bristle holder 36, although depending upon the locationof the slots 36, the location of the cam followers might vary from aboutthe middle of the first bristle holder 36. As the motor 26 rotates theshaft 34 in accordance with arrow C, the cam 66 comes into contact witha surface 74 of the first cam follower 70 and drives the first camfollower 70, and therefore, the first bristle holder 36 away from afirst side 80 of the head portion 20 along a transverse axis 82 of thefirst bristle holder 36. As the shaft 34 continues to rotate, the cam 66becomes disengaged with the first cam follower 70. The cam 66 then comesinto contact with a surface 76 of the second cam follower 72 and drivesthe second cam follower 72, and therefore, the first bristle holder 36toward the second side 84 of the head portion 20. A clearance 86 isprovided between the first and second bristle holders 36, 38 toaccommodate the spacing requirements of this motion. As this back andforth or side to side motion is repeated (as the shaft 34 continues torotate), a sweeping motion is provided that provides enhanced cleaningaction to the teeth in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in a second embodiment of the electrictoothbrush, the second bristle holder 138 is movably mounted in slots102 in the toothbrush head 20 and separately driven in a reciprocatingor translating, transverse motion within the slots 102 by a cam 116included on a driving shaft 108, in a similar manner to the cam 16 shownin FIGS. 2 and 3. The first bristle holder 136 is stationary. The cam116 can comprise an appropriately shaped bead placed over or molded andfixedly secured to the shaft 108 as in the first embodiment. First 110and second 112 cam followers depend from a bottom surface of the firstbristle holder 138. The cam followers are, for example, offset from thelongitudinal axis 30 of the second bristle holder and straddle orcapture the cam 116. As the motor 26 (see FIG. 1) rotates the shaft 108,the cam 116 comes into contact with a surface 114 of the first camfollower 110 and drives the first cam follower 110, and therefore, thesecond bristle holder 138 away from a first side 120 of the brushportion 20 along a transverse axis 118 of the head. As the shaft 108continues to rotate, the cam 116 becomes disengaged with the first camfollower 110. The cam 116 then comes into contact with a surface 117 ofthe second cam follower 112 and drives the second cam follower 112, andtherefore, the second bristle holder 138 toward the second side 126 ofthe head. As this back and forth or side to side motion is repeated (asthe shaft 108 continues to rotate), the desired sweeping motion isprovided.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 17, various embodiments incorporating a secondmovable bristle holder will now be described in combination with a firstmovable bristle holder similar to the first bristle holder 36 previouslydescribed with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4. A first bristle holder 814 ofthe head 816 has a pair of cam followers 815 (see, e.g., FIG. 7A) thatdepend from a bottom surface of the first bristle holder and thatoperatively engage the shaft 820 to reciprocate the first bristle holder814 in a side to side motion substantially transverse to thelongitudinal axis 818 of the head 816, as previously discussed. Theelectric toothbrush 810 has a head 816 and a body or handle 817. Theelectric toothbrush 810 includes a motor 819 and batteries for poweringthe motor. The head portion 816 has a longitudinal axis 818. The firstbristle holder 814 is illustrated as circular. However, other shapebristle holders are contemplated and within the scope of the invention.The motor 819 is operative to rotate the shaft 820. In short, withregard to the construction and operation of the shaft 820 in relation tothe first bristle holder 814, the electric toothbrush 810 is similar tothe toothbrush described in reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. However, theelectric toothbrush 810 also has a second bristle holder disposedadjacent the first bristle holder, such as second bristle holder 822.While it is desirable to locate the second bristle holder directlyadjacent the first bristle holder, it is contemplated that a gap may beprovided between the first and second bristle holders. In addition, thespace between the first and second bristle holders might be filled withstatic, stationary or fixed bristles that are embedded in fixed orstationary third bristle holder (not shown) which forms part of thetoothbrush head. In electric toothbrush 810, the second bristle holderis movable and separately associated with, and separately driven by, thedrive shaft 820.

For example, referring to FIG. 7, a second bristle holder 910 is movablymounted in slots 912 in the toothbrush head 816 and separately driven ina vibratory, side-to-side, motion in a direction substantiallytransverse to the direction of the longitudinal axis 818 by an eccentriccam 914 included on a driving shaft 918. The cam 914 and other camsdescribed below can comprise one or more bends in the shaft 918, asshown for example in FIG. 7A, and as seen in views of other embodimentsdescribed below in FIG. 11, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13. Alternatively, the cam914 can be provided as a separate piece, which is attached to the shaft918 by adhesive, a press or snap fit, a co-molding or any othermechanical or chemical means known in the art. Optionally, the drivingshaft is supported by a shaft support 920. A cam follower 922 dependsfrom a bottom surface 924 of the second bristle holder 910. The camfollower 922 is offset from a longitudinal axis 926 of the secondbristle holder. As the motor 819 of the toothbrush 810 rotates the shaft918, the cam 914 comes into contact with a cam contact surface 928 ofthe cam follower 922 and drives the cam follower 922, and therefore, thesecond bristle 910 holder toward one side 930 of the toothbrush 810 andaway from the longitudinal axis 818 of the head portion 816. As theshaft 918 continues to rotate, the cam 914 becomes disengaged with thecam follower 922. A resilient biasing member such as a spring 934,lodged between a wall of the head portion 816 and a second surface ofthe cam follower, urges the cam follower 922, and therefore the secondbristle holder 910, back toward the longitudinal axis 818 of the headportion 816. As this back and forth or sided to side motion is repeated(as the shaft 918 continues to rotate), a sweeping or brushing motion isprovided that is distinct from and complimentary to the motion providedby the first bristle holder 814. The stroke and/or frequency of thesecond bristle holder 910 can be changed by varying the construction ofthe spring and placement and/or sizing of the cam 914 and the camfollower 922. For example, the cam follower 922 might be placed closerto the axis 926 to provide a shorter stroke or the cam follower 922 or astronger spring might be provided to increase the rate of return of thesecond bristle holder 910 or more than one spring might be provided.Alternatively, the cam follower 922 might form an acute angle with thebottom surface 924 of the second bristle holder 910 or the first surfacecan be provided as accurate, curvilinear, or in other complex forms asopposed to the planar surface shown in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 8, in a second embodiment of the electric toothbrush810, a second bristle holder 1010 is movably mounted in slots 1012 inthe toothbrush head 816 and separately driven in a vibratory, swingingor pivoting motion about a hinge or pivot 1014, by a cam 1016 includedon a driving shaft 1018. The cam 1016 can comprise one or more bends inthe shaft 1018 or be provided as a separate piece as previouslydiscussed. Optionally, the driving shaft is supported by a shaft support1020. A cam contact surface 1022 is located on a bottom surface of thesecond bristle holder 1010. As the motor 819 of the toothbrush 810rotates the shaft 1018, the cam 1016 comes into contact with the camcontact surface 1022 and drives or pushes the second bristle holder 1010causing the second bristle holder to swing or pivot about the hinge orpivot 1014. As the shaft 1018 continues to rotate, the cam 1016 becomesdisengaged with the cam contact surface 1022. During use, as the cam1016 comes in contact with the cam contact surface 1022, bristles of thesecond bristle holder 1010 are urged against the users teeth withgreater force. Preferably, bristles of the second bristle holder 1010are urged between the teeth of the user to provide a cleaning andflossing function. As the cam disengages with the contact surface 1022,bristles pressing against the teeth of the user urge the second bristleholder away from the users teeth. As this swinging or pivoting motion isrepeated (as the shaft 1018 continues to rotate), a flossing or deepcleaning motion is provided that is distinct from and complimentary tothe motion provided by the first bristle holder 814.

Referring to FIG. 9, in a third embodiment, a second bristle holder 1110is movably mounted in slots 1112 in the toothbrush head 816 andseparately driven in a vibratory, lifting or vertical pulsating motion(e.g., in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis 1114 and substantially parallel to a surface 1115 of the secondbristle holder 1110 as shown by way of example in FIG. 9) within theslots 1112, by a cam 1116 included on a driving shaft 1118. Optionally,the driving shaft is supported by a shaft support 1120. The cam 1116 cancomprise one or more bends in the shaft 1118 or can be provided as aseparate piece as previously discussed. A cam contact surface 1122 islocated on a bottom surface of the second bristle holder 1110. As themotor 819 (see FIG. 6) of the toothbrush 810 rotates the shaft 1118, thecam 1116 comes into contact with the cam contact surface 1122 and drivesor lifts in a vibratory, lifting, or vertical pulsating motion thesecond bristle holder 1110 causing the second bristle holder to lift orpulsate in a direction away from the head portion 816 and toward theteeth of a toothbrush user (not shown). As the shaft 1118 continues torotate, the cam 1116 becomes disengaged with the cam contact surface1122. During use, as the cam 1016 comes in contact with the cam contactsurface 1122, bristles of the second bristle holder 1110 are urgedagainst the users teeth with varying degrees of force. Preferably,bristles of the second bristle holder 1110 are urged between the teethof the user to provide a cleaning and flossing function. As the camdisengages with the contact surface 1122, bristles pressing against theteeth of the user urge the second bristle holder away from the usersteeth and back toward the head portion 816. As this lifting or verticalpulsating motion is repeated (as the shaft 1018 continues to rotate), aflossing or deep cleaning motion is provided that is distinct from andcomplimentary to the motion provided by the first bristle holder 814.

Referring to FIG. 10, in a fourth embodiment, a second bristle holder1210 is movably mounted in slots (not shown, but similar to the slots912 illustrated in FIG. 7) in the toothbrush head 816 and separatelydriven in a reciprocating or translating, longitudinal motion within theslots by a cam 1216 included on a driving shaft 1218. Optionally, theshaft is supported by shaft supports 1217. The shaft supports mayinclude C or U shaped portions (not shown) that are operative to receiveand snap around the shaft. Other means for retaining a shaft in asupport are known in the art. The cam 1216 can comprise a shaped bead,with an appropriate eccentric configuration, placed or molded over andfirmly secured to the shaft 1218. In one embodiment, the cam 1216includes a pair of acutely angled surfaces 1219, 1220 which are inclinedin the same direction and at the same angle of inclination, but whichare disposed at opposite ends of the cam 1216. The direction ofinclination and angle of inclination can be varied as desired to changethe frequency and stroke of the second bristle holder 1210. First 1222and second 1226 cam followers depend from a bottom surface of the secondbristle holder 1210. The cam followers 1222, 1226 are offset or spacedfrom a transverse axis 1230 of the second bristle holder. The camfollowers 1222, 1226 straddle and/or capture the cam 1216 so that theangled surfaces 1219, 1220 slidably engage the free ends of the camfollowers 1222 and 1226. As the motor 819 (see FIG. 6) of the toothbrush810 rotates the shaft 1218, the first acutely angled surface 1220 of thecam 1216 comes into contact with a surface of the first cam follower1222 and drives the cam follower, and therefore, the second bristleholder 1210, away from the first bristle holder 814 along thelongitudinal axis 818 of the head portion 816. As the shaft 918continues to rotate, the cam 1216 becomes disengaged with the first camfollower 1222. The second acutely angled second surface 1219 of the cam1216 then comes into contact with a surface of the second cam follower1226 and drives the second cam follower 1226, and therefore, the secondbristle holder 1210, back toward the first bristle holder 814. As thisback and forth motion is repeated (as the shaft 918 continues torotate), a scrubbing action is provided by the reciprocating ortranslating motion that is distinct from and complimentary to the motionprovided by the first bristle holder 814.

Referring to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, in a fifth embodiment of the electrictoothbrush 810, a second bristle holder 1310 is movably mounted in slots(not shown, but similar to the slots 912 illustrated in FIG. 7) in thetoothbrush head 816 and separately driven in an reciprocating ortranslating, longitudinal motion, by a cam 1316 included on a drivingshaft 1318. Optionally, the shaft is supported by shaft supports 1317.The shaft supports may include C or U shaped portions (not shown) thatare operative to receive and snap around the shaft. Other means forretaining a shaft in a support are known in the art. The cam 1316 issinusoidal or curvilinear in nature in that it has one or more adjacentarcuate bends 1319 and 1320 in the shaft 1318. The arcuate bends 1319,1320 each have an apex 1321, and the apexes 1321 are disposed onopposite sides of the driving shaft 1318. A cam follower 1322 dependsfrom a bottom surface 1323 of the second bristle holder 1310 and isdisposed between the apexes 1321 of the cam 1316. As the motor 819 ofthe toothbrush 810 rotates the shaft 1318, a first surface 1325 of thecam 1316 comes into contact with a first surface 1324 of the camfollower 1322 and drives the cam follower 1322, and therefore, thesecond bristle holder 1310 away from the first bristle holder 814 in adirection along the longitudinal axis 818 of the head portion 816. Asthe shaft 1318 continues to rotate, the first surface 1325 of the cam1316 reaches the apex 1321 and becomes disengaged with the first camfollower surface 1324. A second surface 1326 of the cam 1316 then comesinto contact with a second surface 1426 of the cam follower 1322 anddrives the cam follower 1322, and therefore, the second bristle holder1310 back toward the first bristle holder 814. As this back and forthmotion is repeated (as the shaft 1318 continues to rotate), a scrubbingaction is provided by the reciprocating or translating motion that isdistinct from and complimentary to the motion provided by the firstbristle holder 814. The stroke and frequency of the reciprocating ortranslating motion can be varied by changing the spacing between theapexes and/or the amplitude or height of the apexes.

Referring to FIG. 13, in a sixth embodiment of the electric toothbrush810, a second bristle holder 1508 is movably mounted to the toothbrushhead 816 with a pivot 1510, which can be provided in the form of a pinor hinge, is installed at a centrally located transverse axis of thesecond bristle holder 1508. In one embodiment, the second bristle holder1508 pivots about a pin, which is anchored in the sidewalls of thetoothbrush neck or head 816 at the midpoint of the second bristle holder1508. The second bristle holder 1508 is separately driven in avibratory, swinging, teetering or rocking motion by a cam comprised offirst 1512 and second 1514 cam portions included on a driving shaft1518. Optionally, the shaft is supported by shaft supports 1519. Theshaft supports may include C or U shaped portions (not shown) that areoperative to receive and snap around the shaft. Other means forretaining a shaft in a support are known in the art. The cam portions1512, 1514 can comprise one or more rectilinear, cuvilinear or otherbends in the shaft 1518. As is illustrated in FIG. 13 the first camportion 1512 is located adjacent a first side of the pivot and thesecond cam portion 1514 is located adjacent a second side of the pivot.The second cam portion 1514 can comprise a portion of the remote-mostend of the shaft 1518. First 1520 and second 1522 cam contact surfacesare located on a bottom surface of the second bristle holder 1508. As isthe case with all the described embodiments, the amplitude or height ofthe bends or eccentricities that make up the first and second camportions 1512, 1514 are large enough reach the related cam contactsurface(s) and to drive the second bristle holder a desired distancetoward, into, across or along a toothbrush users teeth. As the motor 819of the toothbrush 810 rotates the shaft 1518, the first cam portion 1512comes into contact with the first cam contact surface 1520 and drives orlifts (relative to the figure) a first end 1522 of the second bristleholder 1510 causing the first end 1522 to rock or move about the pivot1510 in a direction away from the head portion 816 and toward the teethof a toothbrush user (not shown). This action lowers a second end 1526of the second bristle holder back toward the head portion 816. As theshaft 1518 continues to rotate, the first cam portion 1512 becomesdisengaged with the first cam contact surface 1520 and the second camportion 1514 engages the second cam contact surface 1522. The second camportion 1514 drives or lifts (relative to the figure) the second end1526 of the second bristle holder 1508 causing the second end 1522 torock or move about the pivot 1510 in a direction away from the headportion 816 and toward the teeth of the toothbrush user. This actionlowers a first end 1530 of the second bristle holder back toward thehead portion 816. During use, as the first and second cam portions 1512,1514 alternately come in contact with the first and second cam contactsurfaces 1520, 1522, bristles of the second bristle holder 1508 areurged against teeth of the user with varying degrees of force.Preferably, bristles of the second bristle holder 1508 are urged betweenthe teeth of the user to provide a cleaning and flossing function. Asthe rocking or pivoting motion is repeated (as the shaft 1518 continuesto rotate), a flossing or deep cleaning motion is provided that isdistinct from and complimentary to the motion provided by the firstbristle holder 814.

Referring to FIG. 14, in a seventh embodiment of the electric toothbrush810, a second bristle holder 1608 is movably mounted to the toothbrushhead 816 with a pivot 1610, which can be provided in the form of a pinor of a hinge installed at a transverse axis of the second bristleholder 1608. In one embodiment, the second bristle holder 1608 pivotsabout a pin, which is anchored in the side walls of the toothbrush neckat one end of the second bristle holder 1608. The transverse axis is,for example, adjacent to a first end 1612 of the second bristle holder1608. The second bristle holder 1608 is separately driven in avibratory, swinging, pivoting or rocking motion by a cam 1614 includedon a driving shaft 1618. Optionally, the shaft is supported by shaftsupports 1619. The shaft supports may include C or U shaped portions(not shown) that are operative to receive and snap around the shaft.Other means for retaining a shaft in a support are known in the art. Thecam 1614 can comprise one or more bends in the shaft 1618. For example,the bends can be rectilinear, curvilinear or other kinds of bends. A camcontact surface 1622 is located on a bottom surface of the secondbristle holder 1608 adjacent to a second end 1626 thereof. As the motor819 of the toothbrush 810 rotates the shaft 1618, the cam 1614 comesinto contact with the cam contact surface 1622 and drives or lifts(relative to the figure) the second end 1626 of the second bristleholder 1608 causing the second end 1626 of the second bristle holder1608 to rock or move about the pivot 1610 in a direction away from thehead portion 816 and toward the teeth of a toothbrush user (not shown).As the shaft 1618 continues to rotate, the cam 1614 becomes disengagedwith the cam contact surface 1622. During use, as the cam 1614; comes incontact with the cam contact surface 1622, bristles of the secondbristle holder 1608 are urged against teeth of the user with a varyingdegree of force. Preferably, bristles of the second bristle holder 1608are urged between the teeth of the user to provide a cleaning andflossing function. As the cam disengages with the contact surface 1622,bristles pressing against the teeth of the user urge the second bristleholder away from the users teeth and back toward the head portion 816.As this swinging or pivoting motion is repeated (as the shaft 1618continues to rotate), a flossing or deep cleaning motion is providedthat is distinct from, and complimentary to, the motion provided by thefirst bristle holder 814.

Referring to FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, in an eighth embodiment of theelectric toothbrush 810, a second bristle holder 1810 is movably mountedin slots 1812 in the toothbrush head 816 and separately driven in areciprocating or translating, transverse motion within the slots 1812 bya cam 1816 included on a driving shaft 1818. This motion is the sametype of motion previously described with respect to the second bristleholder 910 shown in FIG. 7 and is also the same type of motion that thefirst bristle holder 814 undergoes. The cam 1816 can comprise anappropriately shaped bead placed over or molded and fixedly secured tothe shaft 1818. The transverse motion of the second bristle holder 1810can be out of phase with the transverse movement of the first bristleholder 814. For example, as the first bristle holder 814 travels towardone side of the head 816, the second bristle holder 1810 would betraveling toward the opposite side of the head 816. The cam can includeone or more rectilinear, curvilinear or other kind of bend. First 1822and second 1826 cam followers depend from a bottom surface of the secondbristle holder 1810. The cam followers are, for example, offset from thelongitudinal axis 818 of the second bristle holder and straddle orcapture the cam 1816. As the motor 819 (see FIG. 6) rotates the shaft1818, the cam 1816 comes into contact with a surface 1821 of the firstcam follower 1822 and drives the first cam follower 1822, and therefore,the second bristle holder 1810 away from a first side 1828 of the headportion 816 along an axis 1830 transverse to the longitudinal axis 818of the head portion 816. As the shaft 1818 continues to rotate, the cam1816 becomes disengaged with the first cam follower 1822. The cam 1816then comes into contact with a surface 1825 of the second cam follower1826 and drives the second cam follower 1826, and therefore, the secondbristle holder 1810 back toward the first side 1828 of the head portion816. As this back and forth or side to side motion is repeated (as theshaft 1818 continues to rotate), a sweeping motion is provided that isdistinct from and complimentary to the motion provided by the firstbristle holder 814.

Referring to FIG. 17, in a ninth embodiment of the electric toothbrush810, a second bristle holder 1910 is movably mounted in slots (notshown) in the toothbrush head 816 and separately driven in anreciprocating or translating, longitudinal motion, by a cam 1916included on a driving shaft 1918. The cam 1916 can comprise a shapedbead, with an appropriate configuration, placed or molded over andfirmly secured to the shaft 1918. The cam 1916 includes a reversingspiral or helical groove 1920. The spiral or helical groove extendsaround a circumference of the bead and spirals about a longitudinal axisof the bead. For example, the longitudinal axis coincides with the shaft1918. A cam follower 1922 depends from a bottom surface 1923 of thesecond bristle holder 1910. The cam follower 1922 is slidingly receivedwithin the spiral groove 1920. As the motor 819 of the toothbrush 810rotates the shaft 1918, a first surface 1924 of the spiral groove 1920comes into contact with a first surface 1925 of the cam follower 1922and drives the cam follower 1922, and therefore, the second bristleholder 1910 away from the first bristle holder 814 along thelongitudinal axis 818 of the head portion 816. As the shaft 1918continues to rotate, the cam follower 1922 reaches an apex 1926 of thespiral groove 1920 and the first surface 1924 of the spiral groove 1920becomes disengaged with the first cam surface 1925. A second surface1928 of the spiral groove 1920 then comes into contact with a secondsurface 1930 of the cam follower 1922 and drives the cam follower 1922,and therefore, the second bristle holder 1910 back toward the firstbristle holder 814. As this back and forth motion is repeated (as theshaft 1918 continues to rotate), a scrubbing motion is provided that isdistinct from and complimentary to the motion provided by the firstbristle holder 814. Optionally cam 1916 is eccentrically mounted on theshaft 1918 and the longitudinal axis of the bead or cam 1916 does notcoincide with the shaft 1918. In this case, if the cam follower 1922 ismade long enough to ride on the bottom of the spiral groove 1920, alifting or vertical pulsing force is provided to the second bristleholder as the eccentrically mounted came is rotated by the shaft.Alternately, or additionally, the depth of the groove is varied. Thevariation in depth provides lifting or vertical pulsing forces to thecam follower and therefore to the second bristle holder. The spiralgroove may be replaced with a groove that cycles back and forth alongthe longitudinal axis of the bead several times as it circles the bead.This sort of groove can be used to increase the reciprocating frequencyof the second bristle holder.

While the above-described embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated for simplicity with bristles which extend in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 818 and the surface(for example see 1115 of FIG. 9) of the bristle holders, it iscontemplated that the bristles might be arranged differently tocomplement or further enhance the motions of the first and/or secondbristle holders. Referring to FIG. 18, some or all of the bristles mightextend in a direction which forms an acute angle 2008 to a surface 2006of the bristle holder and extends in a direction toward or away from thehandle, such as shown by way of example in FIG. 18 with respect tobristles 2010 and 2014 respectively. Referring to FIG. 19, in anotherembodiment, some of the bristles might extend outwardly away from head,in another direction, again forming an acute angle 2108 with respect tothe surface of the bristle holder, as shown by way in FIG. 19 withrespect to bristles 2110 and 2114. Elastomeric bristles or bristles ofvarying height might also be used, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos.Des. 330,286 and Des. 434,563. Other preferred bristle arrangementssuitable for use include those arrangements described in whole or partin U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,006,394; 4,081,876; 5,046,213; 5,335,389; 5,392,483;5,446,940; 4,894,880; and international publication no. WO 99/23910.

The invention has been described with reference to particularembodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to others uponreading and understanding this specification. For example, while thesecond bristle holders of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 17have been described as driven directly by the shaft, it is contemplatedthat second bristle holder could be directly driven by the first bristleholder by a link, pin, gearing, rack and pinion, or other mechanicalconnection between the first bristle holder and the second bristleholder. Further, while the first bristle holder has been illustrated ascylindrical in shape, the first bristle holder can encompass alternativeshapes and sizes. It is intended that these and other modifications andalterations are included insofar as they come within the scope of theappended claims or equivalents thereof.

1. An electric toothbrush, comprising: a handle having an electricmotor; a head; a neck extending between said handle and said head, saidhead having a first end disposed adjacent to said neck and a second endopposite said first end, said head having a first bristle holder with aplurality of bristles disposed therein and a second bristle holderhaving a plurality of bristles disposed therein, wherein said firstmoving bristle holder is located at said second end of said head; and arotating shaft operatively connected to said electric motor and to saidfirst moving bristle holder to reciprocate said first moving bristleholder in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of said head. 2.The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said bristles of said secondbristle holder are static.
 3. The electric toothbrush of claim 1,wherein said first bristle holder has a plurality of cam followers thatdepend from said first bristle holder and operatively engage a cam onsaid rotating shaft.
 4. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein saidsecond bristle holder is located at said first end of said head.
 5. Theelectric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said cam followers are offsetfrom a longitudinal axis of said first bristle holder.
 6. The electrictoothbrush of claim 1, said head further comprising a plurality of slotsfor guiding said first bristle holder.
 7. The electric toothbrush ofclaim 6, wherein said slots are formed in said first bristle holder. 8.The electric toothbrush of claim 5, wherein said cam followers aredisposed near the middle of said first bristle holder.
 9. The electrictoothbrush of claim 6, said head further comprises a plurality offingers that engage said plurality of slots.
 10. The electric toothbrushof claim 9, wherein said fingers depend from said first bristle holder.11. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said second bristleholder is movable.
 12. The electric toothbrush of claim 11, wherein saidmovement is selected from the group consisting of reciprocation,pivoting, and vertical pulsating motion.
 13. The electric toothbrush ofclaim 11, wherein said rotating shaft engages said second bristleholder.
 14. An electric toothbrush, comprising: a handle having anelectric motor; a head; a neck extending between said handle and saidhead, said head having a first end disposed adjacent to said neck and asecond end opposite said first end, said head having a first bristleholder with a plurality of bristles disposed therein and a secondbristle holder having a plurality of bristles disposed therein, whereinsaid first moving bristle holder is located at said second end of saidhead; and a rotating shaft operatively connected to said electric motorand to said first moving bristle holder to reciprocate said first movingbristle holder in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of saidhead, said head further comprising a plurality of slots for guiding saidfirst bristle holder.
 15. The electric toothbrush of claim 14, whereinsaid bristles of said second bristle holder are static.
 16. The electrictoothbrush of claim 14, wherein said first bristle holder has aplurality of cam followers that depend from said first bristle holderand operatively engage a cam on said rotating shaft.
 17. The electrictoothbrush of claim 14, wherein said cam followers are offset from alongitudinal axis of said first bristle holder.
 18. The electrictoothbrush of claim 17, wherein said cam followers are disposed near themiddle of said first bristle holder.
 19. The electric toothbrush ofclaim 14, wherein said slots are formed in said first bristle holder.20. The electric toothbrush of claim 14, wherein said head furthercomprises a plurality of fingers that engage said plurality of slots.21. The electric toothbrush of claim 14, wherein said second bristleholder is movable.
 22. The electric toothbrush of claim 21, wherein saidrotating shaft engages said second bristle holder.